Pop-ups on Xiaomi phone: what it is, how to turn off and why they appear

Pop-ups on Xiaomi smartphones are one of the most talked-about topics among MIUI users. They can appear suddenly, block the screen, advertise apps or warn about system events. But not all notifications are equally useful: some help to keep track of important updates, others – annoying advertising that interferes with work. In this article, we will understand what pop-ups on Xiaomi are, why they appear and how to control them.

MIUI firmware is deeply integrated with Xiaomi services, sometimes resulting in redundant notifications, such as frequent complaints about ads in system applications (Browser, Music, Themes) or pop-up banners from Mi Video, but not everyone knows that some of these windows can be turned off through settings or even removed from the cause of their appearance.

What are pop-ups on Xiaomi and what they are

Pop-ups on Xiaomi fall into three main categories:

• 📱 System notifications - notifications from MIUI They're usually in the top curtain, but some (like Device Protection) can open over the screen.
• 🛒 Banners are ads for Xiaomi apps, games or services (such as Mi Credit, Mi Pay) often embedded in standard apps.
• ⚠️ Application Warnings – windows from third-party programs (messengers, games, antiviruses) that request permissions or show important information.

The most annoying are advertising poppies, which can appear even on a locked screen or during games. For example, users of the Redmi Note 12 and POCO X5 often encounter Mi Browser banners that offer to install new games. System notifications, on the contrary, are usually useful: they report low battery charge, new messages or suspicious activity.

A separate category is virus pop-ups, and if you see a notification like "Your phone is infected! Download antivirus," it's 100% fraud, and these windows often lock the screen and require suspicious apps to be installed, you should close the window immediately (without pressing the buttons inside!) and check the phone for viruses.

Why pop-ups appear on Xiaomi: 5 main reasons

The reasons for the emergence of pop-ups on Xiaomi can be divided into technical and user-generated.

1. Embedded advertising in MIUI. Xiaomi monetizes its firmware by showing ads in standard apps, even flagship models like the Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Mix Fold 3.
2. Application permissions: Many programs (especially games and optimization software) request the right to display windows on top of other applications, and if you give that permission, poppies will appear more often.
3. Viruses or malware: Some Trojans mimic system notifications to get a user to go to phishing sites.
4. Updates to MIUI: After major updates (e.g., switching from MIUI 13 to MIUI 14), new services that show notifications can be activated.
5. Regional settings: In some countries (such as India or China), Xiaomi is showing more advertising due to local service partnerships.

Important: Even if you bought your phone from an official store, advertising poppies may appear due to pre-installed apps (bloatware) that cannot be removed without root rights.

To understand what exactly causes pop-ups, check:

• 🔍 Settings → Annexes → Application management (look for programs with high power consumption or suspicious permissions).
• 📊 Settings → Notifications (you can see which apps send the most notifications).
• 🛡️ Settings → Security → Scanning (virus testing).

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If pop-ups appear even in safe mode (started by holding the power button), it is almost always a virus.Scan your phone immediately with an antivirus (such as Malwarebytes or Dr.Web).

How to turn off pop-up windows in MIUI settings

Most system and advertising poppies can be disabled through standard settings. Instructions are suitable for MIUI 12/13/14 (on older versions, the paths may be slightly different).

1. Disabling advertising in system applications

Advertising in Browser, Music or Themes is turned off as follows:

1. Open the app that has the ad appearing (e.g. Mi Browser).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → Advertising Preferences.
3. Turn off Personalized Ads and Show recommendations.

2. Block notifications from specific applications

If the pop-ups come from third-party programs:

1. Go to Settings → Notifications → Notifications Management.
2. Select an app that shows poppies.
3. Turn off Pop-up notifications and Sound switches.

3. Prohibition of windows

To prevent applications from showing windows on top of other programs:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Special Access → Show on top of other applications.
2. Find suspicious programs on the list and disable this permission for them.

How to Remove Viral Pop-ups on Xiaomi

If poppies show up with messages like "Your phone is infected!" or "You won a prize!", it's a sign of a virus. These windows often lock the screen and don't close in the standard way. Here's what to do:

1. Close the window forcefully. Press the recent apps button (square or swipe up) and swipe the malicious window away. Don't press the buttons inside the pop-up!
2. Delete suspicious applications. Check the installed list in Settings → Apps. Look for unfamiliar names (e.g. System Update, Flash Player are frequent masks for viruses).
3. Reset your ad settings. Go to Settings → Google → Advertising and click Reset Ad ID.
4. Scan your phone with antivirus. Use Malwarebytes, Kaspersky or Bitdefender.

If the virus blocks access to the settings:

• 🔄 Restart your phone in Safe Mode (hold the power button) → Restarting in Safe Mode).
• 🧹 Remove suspicious apps in Safe Mode.
• 🔧 If nothing helps, reset to factory settings (but save important data first!).

Comparison of methods of dealing with pop-up windows

Not all methods are equally effective. In the table below, we compare methods in terms of speed, complexity and outcome:

For most users, the first three methods are sufficient, and factory resets should only be used if the phone is heavily infected and other methods do not help.

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If after all the manipulations, pop-ups continue to appear, check the phone for root rights or custom firmware. Some modifications of MIUI may contain hidden advertising.

How to permanently remove ads in MIUI (for advanced users)

If standard methods don't work, you can go further and turn off system-level advertising, which requires technical skills and can cause the phone to run unstable.

1. Disabling Advertising through ADB

With the help of ADB (Android Debug Bridge), you can block ads in system applications.

1. Enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times on the build number, then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers).
2. Connect your phone to your PC and execute commands: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.systemAdSolution adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.xiaomi.midrop
3. Reboot the phone.

2. Remove system applications (root required)

With root rights, you can remove pre-installed advertising modules:

• 📌 com.miui.systemAdSolution – personalized advertising system.
• 📌 com.xiaomi.mipicks – Application Recommendations Service.
• 📌 com.miui.analytics – statistics collection (may affect ad impressions).

Use Root Explorer or the command to remove:

su


pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.systemAdSolution

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Before you uninstall your system applications, backup your system applications via TWRP or Mi Backup. Some modules are critical to MIUI!

Installation of custom firmware

Firmware like LineageOS or Pixel Experience completely removes ads and bloatware, but requires unlocking the bootloader.

• ⚠️ The guarantee is lost.
• ⚠️ Camera or sensors may break (due to lack of Xiaomi drivers).
• ⚠️ Technical skills required.

Frequent mistakes in dealing with pop-up windows

Many users make mistakes that only make the problem worse.

⚠️ Warning: Never click on buttons inside suspicious pop-ups (e.g., OK, Close, Install) and often lead to phishing sites or run virus installations.

• 🚫 Ignore updates MIUI. In new firmware versions, Xiaomi often closes vulnerabilities that use advertising modules.
• 🚫 Install cleaners and optimizers, and many of these programs themselves display ads or collect data.
• 🚫 Permit unknown applications, display permissions over other windows and access to notifications are especially dangerous.
• 🚫 Reset settings without backup.If a virus has damaged system files, a reset can cause the phone to "brick" (inoperability.

Another common mistake is to use background ban for system applications, which can cause the phone to slow down or overheat, as important services will not be able to run in the background.

⚠️ Note: If after removing the advertising modules through ADB or the root phone has stopped updating, return the settings back. Some system applications are linked to Xiaomi update services.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Xiaomi's Pop-ups